Stream Avenged Sevenfolds Surprise Release 'the Stage'

Avenged Sevenfold quickly and quietly released their seventh full length studio album today in a move that many are surprised by. With no foreshadowing, marketing or promotion, 'the Stage' breaks away from the mold that we have grown accustomed to. M. Shadows spoke to the OC Register regarding this decision.

“We just found that in 2016, if you announce a record and it’s coming out in three months and you’re just giving people breadcrumbs, it’s the most boring, drawn-out experience,” vocalist M. Shadows said during an interview earlier in the week. “Zack (guitarist Zacky Vengeance) and I were talking about how we just didn’t want to be that band and drag people along because then there’s no excitement the day it comes out. We said, if we were going to do another record, it’s going to be on our terms and doing it this way was exciting to us.”

'The Stage' is Avenged Sevenfolds first attempt a concept album, with a central theme of artificial intelligence and some longer than usual songs. I haven't given the album enough one on one time yet to cast proper judgment, all I can say is, trumping 'Hail to the King' won't be an easy task.

Stream the album below and see for yourself if a conceptual AI Avenged Sevenfold is still the classic band we love.